Fuel feeding system



July 5, 1938. P. A. KETCHPEL ET AL FUEL FEEDING. SYSTEM Filed Aug. 6, 1934 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Y 1933- P. A. KETCHPEL ET AL 2,122,425

FUEL FEEDING SYSTEM Filed Aug. 6, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTORS Paaffllefcve/ BY Eda/ 72B Saai/er ATTORNEY.

P. A. KETCHPEL ET AL FUEL' FEEDING SYSTEM Filed Aug. 6, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS Paw/flied ATTORNEY.

July 5, 1938.

Patented July 5, 1938 UNITED STATES FUEL FEEDING SYSTEM Paul A. Ketchpel, West Englewood, N. 1., and Edwin B. Sadtler, New York, N. Y.; said Ketchpel assignor, by mesne assignments, to The Standard Stoker Company, Inc., (1922), a corporation of Delaware Application August 6, 1934, Serial No. 738,572

4 Claims.

Our invention relates to certain novel improvements in fuel feeding systems and more particularly to the embodiment of such an improved system for. installation in maritime service.

It is an object of our invention to provide a fuel feed system of. the character specified, and in which a conveyor trough receives fuel from a bunker and is provided with a conveyor screw for urging fuel forwardly to an elevator disposed outside of the bunker forward of the conveyor screw and at one side of its axis, the conveyor screw being driven from its forward end and being provided at such end with a plurality of radial blades which push the fuel'laterally into the elevator.

A further object of this invention resides in the provision in the above described fuel feedin system, of means arranged whereby the run-ofmine coal in the bunker is crushed to a suitable size during conveyance by the screw, the crushed coal being then elevated to a storage bin of ample capacity from where the crushed coal is conducted to a pulverizer and impeller for consumption in the boiler furnaces.

Another object resides in the provision of a novel drive mechanism for operating the conveyor and elevator. In carrying out this object of our invention we have constructed a casing which is divided into a fuel receiving portion and a mechanism housing, .and in which a novel relation exists' between the various parts thereof.

Still another object of our invention is to pro vide a novel crusher for our improved fuel feeding system and to so construct the conveyor screw that it coacts with the crusher of our invention to efficiently reduce the coal to a suitable size for pulverizing.

' It is also an object of our invention to make our novel crusher in two sections which embrace the screw, to provide means for quick release of these sections from each other, and to dispose this novel crusher in an alcove which is in the bunker compartment but shielded from thecoal therein.

Other objects are to construct our fuel feeding device in a manner so that the conveyor trough unit is within one compartment, the elevator and driving units in the boiler room compartment beneath the floor thereof, and to relate these units in a manner so that a water tight connection is produced between.

n the drawings which accompany the speciflcations of our invention,

Figure 1 is a sectional vie through adjacent portions of the coal bunker cofinpartment and the boiler room compartment, with the novel fuel feeding system of our invention in elevation;

. Figure 2 is a plan View partly in section of the structure shown in Figure 1 taken on the line 2-2 thereof;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of'Figure 2; Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a, sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 4;

Figure '7 is a sectional view taken on the line of Figure 5; and

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 1.

On these drawings the vessel is indicated generally by V, the boiler room by A and the coal bunker by B, the boiler room and bunker each being within separate water tight compartments. Mounted above the floor IU of the boiler room is a boiler II, which is preferably of the Scotch Marine type, and of which there may be several. Products of combustion pass from the boiler furnaces into the breeching I2 and thence outward through a stack (not shown).

Pulverized fuel is utilized to fire the furnaces of each boiler and for this purpose a fuel pulverizer and impeller P is employed. verizerand impeller P, which is. of the usual construction, receives crushed fuel from a storage bin I3 disposed a suitable distance above the floor l0, and after pulverization, the fuel is impelled through a tube 14 to a burner l5 mounted on a wall of the boiler I I. Lump fuel in the bunker B iscrushed and then elevated into the storage bin l3 by a novel fuel feeding system which will be hereinafter described in detail. The term forward in the specification is used to denote the general direction of the flow of fuel from the" bunker, B to the burner l5.

Supported from the bunker floor l6 bythe upright legs I! is a trough l8 which receives fuel from the bunker B through an open mouth IS, the size of which is controlled by slidable plates such as 2D. The bunker floor I6 is the top wall of a tank T within which the water ballast is stored. Above the trough l8 and the siidable plates 20 there is an angle member 2| which extends longitudinally of the trough with the legs 22 thereof sloping downwardly. Transverse members connect the trough supporting legs l1 and the angle member 2|. By the construction set forth, the ,entire weight of the fuel in the bunker B immediately above the trough I8 is not imposed upon the slidable plates 20, and thereby permits The fuel pulthese plates to be moved with greater ease than would otherwise be possible. Furthermore, the trough I8 thus formed is of a very rigid and substantial construction, and one which will withstand the constant shifting of the fuel supply at the sides of the trough and thereabove. It will be understood that the supply of fuel at each side of the trough is not used normally, but'forms a reserve necessary to meet emergencies and the requirements of insurance underwriters.

To the fuel bunker side of the bulkhead 23 a frame member 24 is secured for supporting a fuel crusher 25 which is of novel construction. This crusher is split horizontally into an upper portion 26 and a lower portion 21, each being pivotally carried by the frame member 24 on the horizontal transverse shafts 28 and 29,. respectively. The upperand lower crusher portions are qnaintained in their operative relation by a quick re-. lease locking device 9; one at each side of the crusher 25. This locking device consists of a threaded bolt 38 hinged as at 3| to the lower crusher portion 21 and engaging a slot 32 of the upper portion 26. A spring 33 passes over the bolt 38 and seats above the slot 32. This spring is compressed by turning a'handle 34 which engages the threaded portion of the bolt 38. Compression of this spring causes the adjacent faces of the upper and lower crusher portions to con-' tact firmly. W

Within the trough I 8 a conveyor screw 2 is rotatably mounted and includes a shaft 35 having a spiral thread 36 wound therearound. At its end remote from the bulkhead 23, the conveyor screw 2 is journalled in a bearing 31, while at its opposite end,'the hub of the screw is conic in shape, increasing in diameter as it extends through the crusher 25. This portion of the screw is provided with multiple spiral flights 38, which in conjunction with the teeth 33, 48 of the upper crusher 26 and the lower crusher .21,

respectively, reduce the lump fuel to a size suit able for pulverization. In order that large lumps of coalmay enter the crusher 26, the upper portion 26 thereof is arched upwardly as at 4|.

The multiple flights on the conic end'of the conveyor screw 2 extend outwardly but a short distance beyond the conic hub -.and are-spaced very closely to the crusher teeth. If desired, these multiple flights may increase in pitch as they progress forwardly to insure that the fuel is carried away faster than advanced toward the crusher. It will be observed that by the particular relation of the crusher portions 26 and 21 to the conic hub and flights of theconveyor screw, the largest lump of coal which will be passed through the crusher will be no greater than the least distance between the conic hub and the teeth of the crusher. In actual practice,

it will be desirable to deliver no coal greater than one inch nuggets in order that the work of the pulverizer may be reduced to a minimum.

The crusher 25 and a portion of the open mouth trough I8 are shielded from the coal in the bunker B by an alcove 42, formed in part by the side walls 43, 44 and the sloping roof 45 which extends from the bulkhead 23 downwardly to the foremost trough supportinglcg' l1. This alcove is of sufiicient size to accommodate a workman, entrance to the alcove being had through. a manhole 46 which is normally closed by aiwater tight cover46a. Drive mechanism-for the fuelj'feed system is disposed in the'boiler room compartment on one side of the bulkhead 2: and preferably belowthe floor 18. The casing 41 for the drive mechanism is .in the form of a drum-like casting which is divided into a fuel receiving portion 48 and the mechanism housing 49. The fuel receiving portion 48 of the casting 41 is in direct communication with the bunker B and trough l8 through the opening 48a, and is secured to the bulkhead 23 by means of bolts passing through the flange 58 which bounds this opening.

ported on the end bearings 3 and 4 and on the intermediate bearing 5, which is of the roller thrust type. This bearing 5 is received in a bore 7 6 in which a thrust collar 1 is secured against movement longitudinally of the power shaft by means of pins 8. Between the roller bearings 4 and 5, the power shaft 5| carries a worm 54 which is engaged by teeth of the vertically disposed worm wheel 55 and the horizontally disposed worm wheel 56. The worm wheel 55 is rotatable with a countershaft 51 which carries a spur pinion 58 in engagement with the gear 59. This last named gear operates the conveyor screw drive shaft 68 which is provided with a polygonal portion 6| extending into the fuel receiving portion 48 of the casing 41 and having secured thereto by the bolt 62 a coupling mem- I ber 63 which serves tooperatively connect the the conveyor the tube 66 a vertical elevating screw 61 is mitting power for operating the elevating screw: 61. Downward movement of the clutch member will permit the worin wheel 56 to idle'about the shaft 68. during continued operation of the power shaft 5]. l I v During operation of the fuel feed mechanism, oftentimes foreign material such as tramp iron will become lodged between the multiple flights 'of the screw 2 and the teeth of the crusher 25,

eventually stall the fuel feed mechanism during reversal thereof.

A few reverse revolutions of the conveyor screw 2 will usually be suflicient to dislodge the foreign material from the crusher 25'i the operator then removes the water tight cover 46a for timer entry into the alcove 42 through the manhole 45, whereby the foreign material may be removed. If'repeated reversals of the conveyor screw'fail to dislodge the obstruction, the upper andlower crusher portions 28, 21 may be hinged an ample supply of crushed fuel, thereby insuring uninterrupted firing of the boiler H at times when the fuel feed mechanism is out of order,

which condition may be caused by obstructions lodging in the crusher 25.

Since the trough l8 and the crusher 25 are on one side of the bulkhead 23, and the fuel elevator and drive mechanism are at the other side of this bulkhead, it is essential that the fuel feeding system be constructed in a manner such that when one compartment becomes flooded because ofa damaged hull, the water will not seep into an adjoining compartment through the fuel feeding mechanism. Accordingly, the flange 50 of :the drum casting 41 forms a water tight joint between the boiler room A and, the fuel bunker B. Thus if the fuel bunker compartment becomes flooded up to the level of the trough l8, water would not-flow into the boiler room A. It is possible that a certain amount of water'may seep into. the mechanism housing 49 through the bearings 16, ll of the conveyor screw drive shaft 60 and the elevating screw shaft 88. However.

the mechanism housing 49 is of an oil tight construction and would therefore prevent any excessive amounts of water from passing therethrough into the boiler room. Usually the presence of water in one compartment is detected before the condition-becomes serious.

The drive mechanism is eifectively'lubricated in the following manner. Oil within the mechanism housing 49 is maintained at a level slightly above the lowermost point of the conveyor screw drive gear 59, thereby insuring that the worm 54,

worm wheels 55, 55 and the gear run in a bath of oil. As the gear 59 is rotated, it carries oil upwardly for lubricating the intermeshed pinion 58 and also for supplying oil to a reservoir 18. This reservoir feeds oil to the bearing 16' of the drive shaft 60 and is also provided with an opening 19 which is above the level of the elevating screw shaft bearing 11. Extending axially of the shaft 68 (Figure 3) is a passage 80 which leads to the bearing 11. A pipe 8| connects this axial passage 80 with the opening I9 of the reservoir l8, and since the oil in the reservoir will always seek its level, oil will be forced upwardly through the passage 80 and thus lubricate the bearing 11. I g

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent to those familiar with theproblems set forth herein, that we have provided anovel fuel feed mechanism which is especially suited for maritime service. We claim the following as our invention. 1

We claim:

1. Drive mechanism for a fuel feeding system including a casing having a fuel receiving portion and a mechanism housing, said first named portion including a horizontal tubular member open at one end to receive fuel, an upright tubular member at one side of said horizontal tubular member, said members communicating with each other through a common opening, a bearing formed in a wall of said casing opposite the fuel receiving opening of said horizontal tubular member and in substantial axial alignment therewith, a shaft journalled in said bearing, said shaft having a portion extending into said horizontal tubular member and another portion into said mechanism housing, a coupling operativelyconnected to-the first named portion of said shaft,

said coupling having radial blades for urging fuel laterally into said vertical tubular member through said commonopening, a gear in said mechanism housing keyed on the last named portion bf said shaft, a bearing-at the bottom of said vertical tubular member, a vertical shaft journalled in said bearing, an elevator screw in said vertical tubular member operatively connected-to the vertical shaft, a horizontally disposed worm gear in said mechanism housing below said bearing, said worm gear being freely mounted upon said vertical shaft, a clutch member below said worm gear slidably keyed upon said shaft, means for slidably moving said clutch member along said shaft for selective engagement and disengagement of said worm gear, a power shaft journalled-in said housing, a worm upon said shaft in driving relation therewith, said horizontally disposed worm gear meshing said worm, a second worm gear disposed at substantially right angles with respect to said first worm gear andmeshing said worm, a shaft journalled in said housing and upon which the second named worm gear is operatively mounted, and a pinion operatively mounted on said last named shaft and meshing tion including a horizontal tubular member open at one end to receive fuel, an upright tubula r member at one side of said horizontal tubular member, said members communicating with each other through a common opening, a bearing formed in a wall of said casing opposite the fuel receiving opening of said horizontal tubular member and in substantial axial alignment therewith, a shaft journalled in said bearing, said shaft having a portion extending into said horizontal tubular member and another portion into said mechanism housing, a coupling operatively connected to the first named portion of said shaft, said coupling having radial blades for urging fuel laterally into said vertical tubular member through said common opening, a gear in said mechanism housing keyed on the last named portion of said shaft, a bearing at the bottom of said vertical tubular member, a vertical shaft journalled in said bearing, an elevator screw in said vertical tubular member operatively connected to the vertical shaft, a horizontally disposed gear in said mechanism housing below said bearing, said gear being freely mounted upon said vertical shaft, a clutch memoperativelrconnecting said horizontal and ver- 3. Drive mechanism for a fuel feeding system including a-easing having a fuel receiving portion and a mechanism housing, said first named portion including a horizontal tubular member open at one end to receive fuel; an upright tubular member at one side of said horizontal tubular member, said members communicating with each other through, a common opening, a bearing formed in a wall of said casing opposite the fuel receiving portion of said horizontal tubular member and in substantial axial alignment therewith, a shaft coupling in the fuel receiving portion of said casingbperativdy connected to said shaft, said coupling having radial blades for urging fuel laterally into said vertical tubular member through said common opening, a bearing at the bottom of said vertical tubular member, a vertical shaft journailed in said bearing, an elev'ator screw in said vertical tubular member operatively connected to the verticalshaft, a power shaft journalled in said housing, and means for tical shafts with said power shaft.

4. Drive mechanism for a fuel feeding system including a casing having a fuel receiving portion journalled in said bearing, a V

and a mechanism housing, said first named porti-on including a horizontal tubular member open at one end to receive fuel, an upright tubular member at one side of said horizontal tubular member, said members communicating with each other through a common opening, a bearing formed in a wall of said casing opposite the fuel 1 receiving portion of said horizontal tubular.

member and in substantial axial alignment therewith, a shaft journalled in said bearing, a coupling in the fuel receiving portion of saidcasing operatively connected to said shaft, said coupling having radial blades for urging fuel laterally into said vertical tubular member through said common opening, a bearing at the bottom of said vertical tubular member, a vertical shaft journalled in said bearing, an elevator screw in said vertical tubular member ope'ratively,connected to the vertical shaft, a power shaft journalled in said housing, and means for operatively connect- 

